Who doesn't know bubble tea? Bubble tea, otherwise known as boba, is a type of tea that originated in Taiwan in the early 80s. Bubble tea is commonly made by blending tea with milk or fruit juices, then adding tasty tapioca pearls as a topping. The Bubble tea trend has become a hot topic of conversation for the past few years and the menu variations are getting more creative and diverse.
Find out everything you need to know about the choice of drinks, boba toppings, and the best bubble tea combinations in this article. Maybe your favorite is on the list?
At the beginning of the bubble tea trend, bubble tea sellers only used black tea as a drink for their bubble tea, but now there are dozens of various drinks to select from. You can choose from a wide variety of drinks for your bubble tea, including traditional black tea, milkshakes or smoothies, taro, and even coffee.
What is the meaning of bubble tea without the topping that completes this unique drink? The most popular and well-known topping is tapioca pearls. However, there are many more toppings that you can try.
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Tapioca pearls are the classic and most popular bubble milk tea topping. Tapioca Pearls are made from tapioca starch that is rolled into little balls and boiled in water. The flavor of the tapioca balls does not come from sugar or syrup; it comes from flavoring. Tapioca pearls are incredibly addictive due to their texture, which is neither too chewy nor too soft. These sweet and chewy pearls go well together with milk tea, chocolate milk, and coffee.
Popping Boba, also known as Bursting Boba, is another type of bubble topping similar in size and shape to tapioca pearls, but very different in texture and flavor. Popping Boba has a unique texture because its outer layer is formed of seaweed extract, resulting in a thin gelatinous coating that is not chewy. The inner part of this boba is also made of seaweed extract and mixed with fruit juice and flavors such as mango, berries, and green tea. So when you bite into the popping boba, it will burst out the sweet and refreshing fruit juice. This ‘fruit caviar’ nicely complements fruity iced teas.
Jelly is another well-liked bubble tea topping with a chewy texture similar to tapioca pearls. The most popular varieties of this particular topping include fruity jelly, coconut jelly, aloe vera jelly, coffee jelly, rainbow jelly, and grass jelly (cincau).
Egg pudding (Custard) is a sweet and silky-smooth custard dessert made from a delicate mix of sugar, eggs, and milk. In comparison to other toppings, egg pudding does not require chewing and it can be easily slurped.
Of course, we can not forget to include the next sweet yet healthful topping, red bean. Red bean, also known as Adzuki bean, is typically seen in different Chinese or Japanese delicacies. Red beans are frequently described as having a grainy texture and tasting sweet, creamy, and earthy. Getting red bean toppings for your boba brings many benefits to your body because it is rich in fiber and protein.
Like cheese foams, oats, chia seeds, edible flower petals, and even… gold leaf!
With so many drinks and topping options to pick from, looking at the menu at your local boba shop might be intimidating, especially if this is your first time trying bubble tea. But don't worry, we've got you covered! We've compiled a list of ten of the best bubble tea combos that we're sure you won't want to miss if you've ever visited a bubble tea shop!
Milk tea boba is the all-time classic, the OG type of bubble tea, and it remains the most popular version regardless of customer age demographic. So it should come as no surprise that this pairing tops our list. This classic boba tea is made with brewed black tea, milk, and tapioca pearls, resulting in a robust and hearty yet rich-flavored beverage. And nowadays many stores offer several choices of alternative milk types for lactose intolerant consumers. So anyone can try this classic combination. Furthermore, many boba shops now provide a variety of alternative milk kinds for lactose intolerant customers, so anyone can try this timeless combo.
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Of course, we won't forget to include the latest trendy combination that has been driving people insane: Brown sugar milk tea boba, commonly known as Tiger Milk Boba Tea. And if you haven't had this Brown sugar milk tea boba, you're seriously missing out!
This bubble tea combination is made of black tea and fresh milk with the added richness of caramelized brown sugar pearls and topped with tapioca pearls and sometimes salted cream (depends on the shops). It is also called tiger milk tea because the drizzling of sweet brown sugar syrup on the cups looked a lot like the streaks of a tiger. Many people love and even are addicted to this drink for its sweet caramel taste, silky texture, and aesthetically pleasing colors. So if you are a sweet milk tea lover, don't forget to grab this bubble tea combo at your local bubble tea shop!
If you are a chocolate lover, Hazelnut Chocolate Milk Tea with Egg Pudding will be your go-to combo! The right mix of milk tea, chocolate, and hazelnut syrup makes this drink unique and different. It may sound a bit strange to combine tea with chocolate, but actually, the taste of the tea is very subtle and the taste of chocolate dominates. The drink is even more perfect with a combination of egg pudding with a silky, rich, velvety texture that melts in your mouth.
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Our next bubble tea combination is an absolute must to be on this list. Matcha Milk Bubble Tea, which originated in Japan, has been gaining worldwide popularity for many years. Matcha itself even has its own cult-like fanbase, so it's no wonder that it's on the menus of nearly every coffee shop and indeed boba shop. The drink has rather more caffeine than the other tea-based drink on our list, but not quite as much as coffee. This vibrant earthy green-looking milk tea is packed full of earthy and creamy flavor with a touch of bitterness because its main ingredient is finely powdered Japanese green tea and fresh milk. The sweetness and chewy texture of tapioca pearls complement the deep and rich flavor of matcha perfectly.
Originated from Thailand, Thai iced tea is one of the most uniquely-flavored bubble milk tea combinations on our list. Thai milk tea is made from strongly brewed Ceylon tea, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk, all of which result in the signature vibrant orange color. The richness of Thai milk tea paired with the chewiness of tapioca pearls, it becomes a match made in heaven.
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Mango Green Tea with Lychee Popping Boba, in contrast to the other combinations on the list, is a non-dairy boba tea combo with a more tropical flavor. The combination of green tea and mango flavor creates a fresh taste and is perfect as a thirst quencher especially if you drink it when the sun is hot. The fresh taste of the sour and sweet drinks is even better when combined with lychee popping boba.
The name Taro Bubble Milk Tea combination might be intimidating to some people, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying this delicious purple-colored drink. Made from the Asian sweet root called Taro, this purple drink offers an earthy, nutty, and vanilla bubble tea flavor that you can’t resist. Some people compare taro boba to a light chocolate flavor. Others say it tastes like caramel, coconut, or vanilla. Taro Milk Tea Boba may be the ideal alternative if you're seeking something mellower with a low-key flavor that isn't tart.
There you have it! No more feeling confused when choosing your bubble tea combination. If you can't decide on your next combo, just scroll down the list and see which bubble tea combos you like best. These combinations will definitely not disappoint you!
If you have tried any of these combinations, let us know your favorite one below.
Also, let us know if we've missed out on any bubble tea combos you love!
